Natural Gas Boom Time

October 25, 2004 7:20 PM

Natural gas provides a quarter of our nation's energy. Most of it is produced domestically as well. One arid region of Wyoming finds itself in the middle of this boom.
posted by split atom (13 comments total)

When I say "our" country, I mean the United States. Sorry if I offended any non-American MeFites.
posted by split atom at 7:22 PM on October 25, 2004

According to the woman with whom I share a bed, most of it is produced in Newton, Massachusetts.
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:23 PM on October 25, 2004

Stripping the West
posted by homunculus at 7:29 PM on October 25, 2004

The marketers say that natural gas is better for cooking than electric ranges?
posted by jmccorm at 9:22 PM on October 25, 2004

This article is talking about Coal-bed methane extraction, as best as I can tell, and let me tell you, this is seriously bad news. It uses enourmous quantities of water, (which is already at a premium in the arid west), makes it toxic, and leaves it to stand in great holding ponds. West Nile Virus reaching the west coast? Thank the coal bed methane extraction going on in Wyoming. It's also screwing up the aquifers in the region, and locals are finding that all of a sudden their basements are either collapsing or getting toxic water seeping into them. And coal bed methane extraction was declared a "highest priority" energy project by the Bush administration. WE REALLY need to vote these a-holes out of office in two weeks.

I mean really...
posted by Windopaene at 12:38 AM on October 26, 2004

The marketers say that natural gas is better for cooking than electric ranges?

Gas is perhaps more controllable, ie, if you turn it down its down immediately, you don't have to wait for heat dissipation the way you do with electric hobs. There used to be an argument regarding greater safety on electric due to the risk of gas flames going out but I am given to understand the safety features now make this moot.
Do they not use gas cookers where you are? They are common in the UK. Technology choice following local economics I suppose.

The UK also uses natural gas as a major fuel for electrical generation. by 2002, 35% of electricity generated in the UK came from gas, an increase from zero over about a decade. The change was mainly driven by the low price of natural gas from UK fields in the North Sea and following the privatisation of the UK's electricity sector in 1990. The fields are now running down however and the UK is likely to be vulnerable to supply issues as the main source for imports are former soviet republics, and as has been noted, we are at the end of a very long pipeline.
posted by biffa at 1:42 AM on October 26, 2004

Windopaene -- The article posted is in regards to conventional natural gas drilling going on in the Jonah field of central Wyoming, not coal bed methane extraction. However, the article posted by homunculus is in reference to the coal bed methane extraction going on in the Powder River basin of Northeast Wyoming. I'm not sure as to some of the claims you made (people's basements collapsing, and coal bed methane somehow responsible for West Nile Virus in the west?), do you have any links?
posted by split atom at 6:49 AM on October 26, 2004

Wyoming? Isn't that Cheney Country? That bastard planned this too? He IS an evil genius!
posted by fenriq at 7:50 AM on October 26, 2004

jmcorn -- Having to use electricity is one of the reasons I hate to cook anymore. If I can ever afford to build a house, all the relevant appliances will be gas rather electric heat.
posted by alumshubby at 9:10 AM on October 26, 2004

Here's another vote for gas over electric for cooking. It's all kinds of better.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:06 AM on October 26, 2004

WE REALLY need to vote these a-holes out of office in two weeks.

Erm. Since you seem to be voting for my guy, I certainly hope you don't show up to vote in two weeks. The election is in seven days.
posted by mr_roboto at 11:09 AM on October 26, 2004

I, for one, would like to thank you Mayor Curley. Your constant diet of beans and Taco Bell have helped keep this country warm and cooking.
posted by graventy at 12:36 PM on October 26, 2004

I, for one, would like to thank you Mayor Curley. Your constant diet of beans and Taco Bell have helped keep this country warm and cooking.

I was seriously worried that I knew you in real life for a second. Then I realized that it was a generalization that was especially apt!
posted by Mayor Curley at 12:44 PM on October 26, 2004